University Day at the mall

Mariah Miller, 6, and Noah Patton, 9, of Bainbridge, read an AR Magic Book at the Binghamton University Libraries Table during Binghamton University Day at the Oakdale Mall on Feb. 21. The book is a projection that moves as the blank pages of the book move. More than 30 displays highlighted the University’s research activities, academic offerings and admissions information. Photo by Jonathan Cohen

News Briefs

Harpur Cinema presents ‘Girlhood’ (2014) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, in LH-6. The film will be introduced by Associate Professor Dora Polachek. Fed up with her abusive family situation, lack of prospects at school and the “boys’ law” in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life with a group of free-spirited girls. She changes her name and style, drops out of school, starts stealing to gain acceptance and seeks solace in an older man who promises her money and protection. When she realizes that none of these will ever lead to the independence she truly desires, Marieme finally decides to take matters into her own hands. Those who remember Sciamma’s Tomboy (Harpur Cinema, fall 2013) will welcome the opportunity to see her latest film. Won: Women Film Critics Circle Award. Nominated: Cannes, Queer Palm; Lux Prize, 2014. The film will be shown again at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, in LH-6. Admission is $4. For more information, call 607-777-4998.

Donald Pratt, 67, retired maintenance assistant in Physical Facilities, died Thursday, Feb. 26. He began working at Binghamton University in 1974, and retired in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, two daughters, to stepdaughters, one stepson, two sisters, two brothers, one brother-in-law, and several grand- and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Make A Wish Foundation, 5005 Campuswood Dr., Syracuse, NY 13057.

Even professors enjoy making snow angels! This week in Beyond the Classroom, hear from Carmen Carrión-Flores as she talks about adjusting to New York winters, her passion for economics and the joy of interacting with students!

The Art Mission and Theater, Binghamton's independent movie house will hold screenings of the film "The Rewrite" starting at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 3. The film, written and directed by Binghamton University alumnus Marc Lawrence '81, is set at Binghamton University, features many scenes of the Binghamton area and stars Hugh Grant as a Binghamton University professor.

The Art Mission and Theater is located at 61 Prospect Ave., Binghamton. Go online to view website.

“The Rewrite” follows a down-on-his-luck, award-winning screenwriter, played by Grant, who, as a last resort, takes a job teaching at Binghamton University, where he hopes to focus on writing another hit. However, he winds up becoming more involved than he ever imagined with his students, his colleagues, both friendly (J.K. Simmons, Chris Elliott) and adversarial (Allison Janney) and a single mom going back for her degree, played by Marisa Tomei.

John Cheng of Asian and Asian American Studies (DAAAS), will present “When (East) Indians Were White, Then Not: Racial Formation and Naturalization Law in the Early 20th-Century United States” at noon Wednesday, March 4, in LN-1106, IASH Conference Room.

For a brief period in the early 20th century, immigrants from India — or “Hindus” as they were referred to at the time — were allowed to become naturalized U.S. citizens using the logic that they were Caucasian and therefore “white.” The Supreme Court, however, ruled in 1923 that Hindus were not white and not eligible for naturalization. When the United States then revoked their citizenship, these previously American Indian immigrants and their families learned firsthand that race in practice was not based on biology or common ancestry; instead through the law, popular social discourse about Asiatic difference hardened into — and validated — exclusionary and discriminatory practices against anyone falling within the emergent category, “alien ineligible for citizenship.”

There will be a Collective Dynamics of Complex Systems (CoCo) Research Group seminar at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, in EB-R3, the SSIE Conference Room. Ning Zhou, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, will speak on "Oscillation Detection and Analysis in Power Systems."

More details can be found online. Refreshments will be served, followed by free discussion. For more information, send an e-mail to Hiroki Sayama.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day early! At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, during an evening of prose, poetry and Irish fiddle, at Riverread Books, 5 Court St., Binghamton, Darran McCann, best-selling North Irish author of After the Lockout, will read fiction; Binghamton assistant professor and Irish American poet Joe Weil will read poems and Binghamton Professor Emeritus Martin Bidney will play Irish fiddle music. The reading will be followed by a brief, friendly Q & A, book signings and Irish snacks. Event is free and open to all.

Two speakers will present at the Symposium on Ancient China and Korea from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, in FA-212. Charles Sanft, assistant professor of pre-modern history at the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, will present "Communication and Cooperation in Early Imperial China," and Mark Byington, founder and project director of the Early Korea Project at the Korea Institute at Harvard University, will present “The Unapproachable History of Ancient Korea.”

Sanft's research focuses on the political thought and practice of early imperial China from around the late third-century BCE into the first-century CE. Byington, also editor the Early Korea Project Occasional Series, focuses on the formation and development of early Korean states.

Join us for an opportunity to meet “like-minded” entrepreneurs in Binghamton and throughout the Southern Tier. Listen to entrepreneurs-in-residence, as they discuss ideation. Find out how they turned their business ideas into concepts.

The workshop will introduce the ideation approach and outline additional workshops that will be available to Southern Tier entrepreneurs in the coming months.

The event is open to students, faculty, staff and members of the community. Register in advance online.

Register before Friday, March 6 for our upcoming Red Cross Adult CPR/AED Certification class from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, at EG-18. Sign up in person at the Rec Center front desk. Class size is limited.

Training combines lecture, interactive video demonstrations featuring emergency scenarios that are likely to occur in a variety of environments and hands-on training to teach participants lifesaving skills. Participants learn how to perform CPR and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, as well as how to use an AED (automatic external defibrillator).

The class cost $60 and includes a copy of an Adult Ready Reference Card and
certification. Certifications are valid for two years.

Participants can download the Participants Manual on the Red Cross website. Click on "take a class" and choose the correct class name for corresponding materials.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) Graduate Student Organization will hold a mid-semester yoga de-stresser with MSW graduate student Whitney Brown from 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, March 13, in UDC-120.

Join Brown for an evening of Bikram yoga. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat or towel, and a water bottle.

Brown is a certified Bikram yoga instructor. She has been practicing for seven years and is a recipient of the prestigious 2014 Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Scholarship. She has competed in the 2014 and 2015 New York Regional Championships and has qualified to compete in the USA National Yoga Championships to be held in Binghamton, May 1-3.

Four exhibitions at the Binghamton University Art Museum will close soon. Saturday, March 14 will be the last day to see Face to Ground: Mirko Ilic — Comics / Illustrations / Graphic Design / Multimedia, curated by Assistant Professor of Art and Design Blazo Kovacevic, in the Main Gallery, as well as three exhibitions curated by students on view in the Nancy J. Powell Lower Galleries. Go online for details.

A University Wind Symphony Concert, “Just Like a Concert in the Park,” will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8, in the AC-Osterhout Concert Theater.

Although the weather may still be cold outside, you’ll be ready for a wonderful concert in the park as we capture the spirit of this great summer pastime. Our guests, the Vestal Community Band led by Jerry Natoli, will join Dan Fabricius and the Wind Symphony for this enjoyable program filled with popular, amusing and patriotic music.

Tickets are $7, general public; $5, faculty, staff, seniors or alumni; and free for students. Tickets are available at the Anderson Center Box Office from noon-5:30 p.m. weekdays, by calling 607-777-ARTS, online or at the door. For more information, contact the Department of Music at 607-777-2592 or become a fan on Facebook.